What is red yeast rice extract good for?
Red yeast rice is made by fermenting a specific type of yeast, Monascus purpureus, over rice for roughly three to six days, which concludes with the rice acquiring a vivid red color. Red yeast rice has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries for its benefits in improving cardiovascular health and digestive health.
Benefits for cholesterol levels
Red yeast rice actually contains chemicals that are similar to, and sometimes identical to, certain prescription medications known as statins, which are often prescribed by doctors to lower LDL or "bad" cholesterol levels.
In fact, red yeast rice is often used as a natural alternative to statins for lowering cholesterol, as it seems to have fewer unwanted side effects than the prescription medications, although some treatments may actually involve both a combination of red yeast rice and statins together.
Other cardiovascular benefits
In addition to its effects on cholesterol, red yeast rice is known to improve blood pressure levels, blood sugar levels, and triglyceride levels, as well as enhancing endothelial function, which means the healthy function of the inner lining of your blood vessels, something that is vital for optimal cardiovascular health. Intake of red yeast rice has also been associated with an overall reduction in excess body fat.
Role in inflammation
Red yeast rice has also demonstrated potent anti-inflammatory properties. For example, one study that involved 50 people suffering from metabolic syndrome found that red yeast rice supplementation reduced levels of oxidative stress, a key driver of inflammation, by up to 20%.
Another study involving rats suffering from kidney damage found that red yeast rice extract supplementation reduced overall amounts of specific proteins that are involved in inflammation throughout the body.
Role in cancer prevention
Red yeast rice is also being researched for its cancer-fighting potential. Limited in vitro and animal studies so far have shown that red yeast rice supplementation can help reduce the growth and spread of cancer cells, as well as decrease tumor volume.
When should I take red yeast rice extract?
There does not seem to be a time of day that is best suited for taking red yeast rice extract, however it is best absorbed when taken with a meal.
What does red yeast rice extract combine well with?
Red yeast rice extract with nattokinase, for blood sugar
In one animal study, a combination of red yeast rice extract and nattokinase was found to have significant effects on regulating blood sugar levels when compared to taking the supplements individually.
That said, red yeast rice extract is generally best taken with a meal, while nattokinase is best taken between meals, so you would need to deviate from this if you wanted to replicate the study exactly, which involved a combined supplementation of both at the same time.
Red yeast rice extract with ubiquinol, berberine, folic acid and astaxanthin
Interestingly, further benefits to blood sugar levels were found when red yeast rice was combined with other supplements, including ubiquinol, berberine, policosanols, vitamin B9 (folic acid) and astaxanthin.
What should I avoid taking red yeast rice extract with?
Avoid with niacin (vitamin B3)
Taking red yeast rice supplements together with niacin (vitamin B3) supplements might increase the risk of developing muscle conditions, including myopathy, as both supplements are known to have effects on the muscles.
Avoid with grapefruit or blood-thinning medication
Grapefruit, and by association grapefruit juice, are known to increase the amount of statins in the blood if taken together with this type of medication, increasing the chance of side effects. Due to the way in which red yeast rice extract acts as a statin, the same precaution applies.
It is also advised to avoid taking red yeast rice extract together with blood thinning medication, as it can also exacerbate the effects.
Red Yeast Rice Extract data sources & further reading
- https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/supplement/red-yeast-rice
- https://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/red-yeast-rice
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-red-yeast-rice/art-20363074
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/red-yeast-rice
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9961320/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19786378/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26308759/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9609170/
Last updated by Asklepios on 30th January, 2025